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Things got a little more exciting than usual at the annual Krampus parade in the small town of St. Johann in Pongau when a group of teenagers attacked the demonic mountain spirits.

According to a report in the Oesterreich daily, a group of young Turkish teens were provoked by the boisterous display of the Krampus performers, and physically attacked them during a procession near Salzburg on Tuesday night.

The parade consisted of around 40 Krampus-costumed locals, many of whom had already thoroughly warmed themselves with a few drinks, as is traditional.

Krampus is part of a Christmas tradition at this time in Austria and parts of southern Germany, which sees a parade of masked young men, dancing through the street dragging chains and giant metal sleds with fire and noise-makers.

The Krampus is often known to punish onlookers, using long thin sticks to beat people around the legs, especially if they're suspected of being naughty.

Usually, St. Nikolas is on hand to keep the lively mountain spirits in line, but on this occasion, it wasn't enough, so police had to intervene with pepper spray.

At least one 15-year-old Turkish youth was arrested after attacking a Krampus with his fists. Friends of his attempted to intervene in the arrest, however police quickly gained control, and made additional arrests.